NDTV has a copy of the two-page statement that Shashi Tharoor tried to make in Parliament. In it, Tharoor states that he lobbied for a franchise for Kerala because he has been " a passionate cricket fan" since his childhood. He also repeats that as an MP for Kerala, he believed an IPL team would be " a triumph for Kerala."
Tharoor states that the consortium that bid and won for the IPL team, Rendezvous, approached him and that he became their "mentor and advisor." He states he was "not a part of their business decisions including their decision to bid for a franchise."
To the BJP allegations that his patronage of the team was inappropriate for a minister, he responds, "My role in mentoring was within bounds of appropriate conduct of an MP and a minister....there was no misuse of my official position or ministry...my official position gave me no advantage. It was irrelevant to the bid."
Tharoor refers to Sunanda Pushkar as "a close friend of mine". Pushkar received 70 crores of free equity from Rendezvous. Tharoor says that the allegation that Pushkar was a front for him "is particularly wounding...I've never had slightest taint of financial wrongdoing. Money has never been motivating factor for me."
He also adds that Rendezvous gave Pushkar what he describes as "sweat equity" in lieu of a salary for her contribution as a Brand and Marketing Manager for the consortium . Tharoor describes this statement as "common for such ventures all over the world."
Source : http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/ipl-tangle-tharoors-statement-in-parliament-20115.php
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